Upcoming Events

Cloud Connect
Santa Clara
Feb 13-16, 2012

Cloud Connect brings together the entire cloud eco-system to better understand the transformation we're experiencing and promises to be the defining event of the cloud computing industry. Learn about the latest cloud technologies and platforms from thought leaders in Cloud Connect’s comprehensive conference.

Register Now!

N E W S / A N A L Y S I S

FUDBusters

September 4, 2003
By Mike Fratto

	Issue TOC
	Print full article
	Download as PDF
	E-Mail this URL
	Discuss this article
	Flame the author

What: E-mail notifications to senders of spam and viruses

When: Ongoing

FUDFactor: If you tell people they are sending viruses in e-mail, perhaps they will clean their systems.

FUDBust: I have news for you: If you're running antispam/antivirus scanners configured to autorespond, you are single-handedly compounding the problem of spam and e-mail worms. Your autoresponder is sending e-mails to the sender in the "From" lines. Oftentimes, that is not the true sender but rather a spoofed e-mail address. You could be responding to an innocent end user.

Instead of autoreplying, configure your antispam/antivirus scanner to discard all offending e-mail and log each drop. Peruse the logs every once in a while, and if you see high numbers of e-mails from one person, perhaps you can follow up manually. Whatever you do, please stop adding to the problem.

Post a comment or question on this story.